What 1,163 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked while attempting to upshift. The contact stated there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the same symptoms. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,261.

NHTSA ODI 11420335

1. Powertrain/Transmission: The transmission starting slipping and having hard shifts. When I would slow the car to turn or stop, it jerked at 30mph, 20 mph, and again at 15-10mph. Then it started hard shifting when you put it in Drive, and again at each shift. It wouldn't go over 55mph. The Powertrain Failure light(orange wrench) and Fordpass Notice finally came on a week and a half after the issues started. Shortly after the light cam on the car would not go in Reverse. There is a recall on the Powertrain in 2020 Explorers, however my VIN # does not show any recalls. I have an infant that is in the car with me usually. I am afraid for her to travel with me now in this vehicle, even once Ford tries to "fix" the issue because the warning light does not appear until the Powertrain is completely gone. I feel that the sensor should go off when it notices the transmission is having issues. This vehicle is now at a Ford dealership to be repaired. *2. Rear-view back up camera: Camera works 20% of the time. The screen is blue or the image jumps severely. It was taken to a Ford dealership and they said it didn't happen when it was there so they did nothing to fix it. There is a recall on this feature however my VIN # does not apply. *3. A/C: The air-conditioning unit fails to cool the air. The AC unit blows humid air. *4. Screen/display: The screen in the center console will go black and the steering wheel buttons will not work on the radio or bluetooth phone capabilities. The hands free phone option was not available during these system blackouts. 5. Park-aid sensor: The parking sensors in the front bumper keep falling out and go off making it seem like I am an about to hit something. I had to pop them back in place at least twice. *A Ford dealership has tried to address these issues already. However, these features still do not function properly on the car. If the feature "worked" while it was in the repair shop then they said they couldn't fix it.

NHTSA ODI 11419914

There are times when I start the vehicle, or manually release the parking brake, that it simply does not release. The brake pedal becomes rock hard at these times, without its normal travel. If the vehicle is reversing, like leaving my garage, it stops like it hit a brick wall when the brake pedal is touched. The rear brakes are simply locked. It stops so abruptly that it has aggravated lower back pain from previous injuries. I’m afraid of getting stranded in traffic, unable to move the vehicle. It did this on dirt and it was just dragging the rear tires. The only solution I have found is to turn off the engine, wait a few seconds, restart the vehicle, hope. I got, in rapid succession: 1. ANTILOCK BRAKE FAULT !!! 2. HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT 3. PRE-COLLISION ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE 4. HILL START ASSIST WARNING The service at Mesquite (Nevada) Ford was totally insufficient. I expected them to find and fix the problem, which obviously lies in the anti-lock/parking brake. I was eager to get the vehicle back and find out what was wrong as I’ve been afraid to use the manual parking brake for fear it will seize up and not release. When I got the vehicle back (which took a long time and a long story as the mechanic went home sick in the middle of the job with COVID) they said, “Oh, we reset the error message so everything is fine.” Well, it still locks up, sometimes when I have shut the engine off and sometimes when I tried to manually set the parking brake, which I am still avoiding. If it’s only my vehicle then there is a dealer problem. If there are more reports, then it’s a bigger problem. I don’t know where on your site to say this — I am shocked by the number of fatalities — but not really. Either reduce the speed limits in the west or keep killing people. 80 mph is ridiculous because everyone now runs 90+ mph. We’ve come upon two fatal accidents this summer on I-15. The carnage was terrible. Please, please, please slow the traffic.

NHTSA ODI 11419597

Ball joint worked itself loose and the bolt connecting the wheel to the control arm fell out. As a result, the wheel concaved and posed a serious risk of loss of control, crash and injury to vehicle occupants and other drivers.

NHTSA ODI 11418941

Driving our 2020 Ford Explorer ST Friday at approx 35-40mph. Vehicle seemed to loose power and almost die when it suddenly surged forward at a high rate of speed. This happened several more times scaring my wife and grandkids. The vehicle only has 3800 miles on it but she is now scared to death to drive it. Had it towed to dealership Friday afternoon and waiting for a tech to take a look. Not good!

NHTSA ODI 11418213

THE BACKUP CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK WHEN WE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. WE ESTIMATE THAT IT FAILS TO WORK 10-15% OF THE TIME. THE SCREEN TURNS BLUE AND WE CANNOT USE THE CAMERA TO SEE WHAT IS BEHIND US. WE RELY ON THE CAMERA BECAUSE THE OVERALL VISIBILITY TO SEE BEHIND THE VEHICLE IS POOR. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM THAT LED FORD TO RECALL OTHER VEHICLES. OUR VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THOSE RECALLS.

NHTSA ODI 11415715

CAR JERKS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND SOMETIMES 2ND TO 3RD. ALSO, VERY LONG DELAY WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE. TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 5-10 SECONDS SOMETIMES TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI 11415262

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNDER THE CAR PORT AND TURNED OFF, A FIRE IGNITED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BURN AND ALSO CAUSING BURN DAMAGE TO THE HOME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY STARTER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN STARTED FOR 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ODI 11414929

LEAKED TRANSMISSION OIL.VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR LIKE IF IT WERE UP HILL AND ITAS ON A FLAT SURFACE. THIS VEHICLE MAKES A LOAD NOISE AND WOULD JERK.

NHTSA ODI 11414412

MY 2020 FORD EXPLORER, BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AT 25K MILES, CAR STARTED TO MAKE THIS WEIRD SOUND WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTS 1-2 AND 2-3 WHEN ACCELERATING. NOW EVERY TIME IT SHIFTS VERY NOTICEABLY FROM 1-2 AND 2-3, IT JERKS SO HARD. IT IS SO ANNOYING. SERIOUSLY SO DISAPPOINTED THIS CAR IS MY DREAM CAR. LOVE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. IS THIS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOREVER? I WOULD LIKE IT TO GET RECALLED BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS. TONS OF FORUMS OUT THERE ARE EXPLAINING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. WHAT A SAME, BECAUSE THIS CAR IS PLEASING TO THE EYE BUT.... I DON'T WANT TO RECOMMEND IT TO SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.. CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DEPARTMENTS ARE BOOKED... MAKES ME WONDER IF THEY ARE ALL 2020 FORD EXPLORERS

NHTSA ODI 11414434

UNDER 10K MILES AND VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO JERK/LURCH FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS AND IS NOW AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CALLED DEALERSHIP ON 4/16/21 AND THEY CAN'T GET ME IN UNTIL JUNE 1.VEHICLE SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO SWITCH GEARS. ALSO IS MAKING A WEIRD WHINY SOUND WHILE SWITCHING GEAR. NO LONGER COMFORTABLE DRIVING CAR AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ODI 11413934

ON TWO OCCASIONS, INSTEAD OF CHANGING GEAR, THE CAR INCREASED RPMS LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THEN LURCHED BACK INTO GEAR. IN BOTH CASES, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY BRAKE, BUT IT WAS A TERRIFYING SITUATION. I WAS IN NORMAL DRIVE MODE, AND BELIEVE THE GEARS WERE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND.

NHTSA ODI 11414023

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON 3 TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. ON ANOTHER ATTEMPT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN THIRD GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11413173

BACKUP CAMERA SHOWS ONLY BLUE. HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. NOTHING IS ON CAMERA. SOMETIME WILL REMEDY AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI 11408560

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED ABOUT THREW US INTO THE DASH. PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. AT NO TIME DID ANY WARNING LAMP COME ON. AFTER RESTARTING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED NORMAL , THEN THE SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE CAME ON AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THEN IT WENT OFF, THEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN LURCHING THEN IT WAS OK. STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS. PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY AND TURNED IT OFF. MESSAGE ON DASH SAID SHIFT TO PARK BUT IT WAS IN PARK. I GOT OUT AND CAR ROLLED ABOUT 10 FEET AND STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. NEXT DAY IT DROVE FINE FOR AWHILE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS THEN BEGAN TO GET MESSAGE SHIFT TO PARK. TRANSMISSION THEN SEEMED TO SKIP GEARS THEN BEGAN TO NOT SHIFT UNTIL RPMS WERE VERY HIGH. PARKED CAR AND WITH ENGINE OFF MESSAGE SAID SHIFT TO PARK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN PARK. HAD IT TOWED TO FORD DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS STUCK IN PARK. THEN CALLED TO SAY IT HAD METAL IN IT AND IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS UNSAFE THAT A CAR CAN ROLL BY ITSELF WHEN IN PARK. UNACCEPTABLE THAT IT FAILED WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES AT 19,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11408140

VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT WITH NO ISSUES AND WHEN WENT TO DRIVE THE NEXT MORNING TO TAKE KIDS TO SCHOOL VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH. IT GAVE THE WARNING THERE WAS A POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION, ENGINE COOLANT OVER TEMPERATURE (WHICH WE JUST HAD THE RECALL DONE A WEEK AGO), AND A REGULATORY MALFUNCTION INDICATOR. WE WERE NOT FAR FROM HOME, SO RETURNED BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11406864

THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED ITSELF 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. IT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF AND THE KEYS ARE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. IT LOCKS AND STARTS AS IF IT WAS AUTO STARTED BUT DOES NOT SHUT OFF AND NO ONE HAS STARTED THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN STATIONARY AND PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING. IT HAS ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES AS WELL AS HILL START ASSIST ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11405199

TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING AND STOPPED PULLING AT APPROXIMATELY 17,000 MILES. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. IT WAS REPAIRED AND 6 QUARTS OF FLUID ADDED. SINCE THE REPAIRS, TRANSMISSION IS HARD SHIFTING AND JERKING. I'VE HAD THE CAR BACK AT THE DEALER FOR STEERING ISSUES 3 TIMES. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65MPH AND ABOVE) THE CAR WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, LIKE THERE'S SLACK IN THE RACK AND PINION. THE DEALER SAYS THE ALIGNMENT IS OKAY AND REFUSES TO LISTEN TO MY COMPLAINTS. HAVE ISSUES WITH THE SYNC. THE RADIO WILL RANDOMLY NOT LET YOU ADJUST THE VOLUME AND HAVE HAD THE BACK-UP CAMERA REPLACED. ALSO, RANDOMLY WILL NOT SYNC-UP WITH IPHONE.

NHTSA ODI 11404111

WHEN STOPPING, MOVING SLOW OR PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT OR GARAGE YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL THE FUEL IN THE TANK SLOSHING BACK AND FORTH. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS AT LEAST 1/2 FULL AND IS VERY NOTICEABLE BUT SEEMS TO GO AWAY WHEN FUEL IS UNDER 1/2 TANK.

NHTSA ODI 11403968

I BOUGHT A 2020 FORD EXPLORER LAST MAY. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 7500 MILES. MONDAY 3/15/21 I NOTICED A WHINING NOISE WHEN THE CAR WAS SHIFTING INTO GEARS. IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN AS THE WEEK PROGRESS. IT GOT WORSE BY MID-WEEK. THURSDAY 3/19/21 I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEARLERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I COULD DROP IT OFF FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR THE NEXT AVAILABLE DATE WAS THE 2ND WEEKEND IN APRIL. I INFORMED MY HUSBAND WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER MY CAR THIS MORNING. HE CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME GET MY CAR. WE HAD TO MOVE IT FROM THE PARKING GARAGE I PARK IN TO THE STREET AND THERE WAS ALSO A BIG PUDDLE OF FLUID. HE CHECKED THE OIL AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF IT IN THE CAR. BY THE TIME THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVE THERE WAS JUST A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON CAR CAME ON TO INDICATE AN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11403732

MY 20 FORD EXPLORER HAS EXPERIENCED TWICE WHERE THE SPEED LIMITER (ACC ADAPTED CRUISE CONTROL)-(SSR SPEED SIGN RECOGNITION) READS THE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS INCORRECTLY. POSTED SPEED WAS 65 MPH AND IT INCREASE SPEED TO 85 MPH. I WAS DRIVING THRU COLUMBUS OHIO, ON I670 GOING NE, STARTING AT THE LEONARD AVE EXIT TO I270 (TO EXIT 10B SR161). I DON'T DRIVE HERE OFTEN; THE FIRST TIME WAS FEB 23 & THEN MARCH 16 (PHOTOS ATTACHED) IN THE SAME EXACT LOCATION. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE SPEED SIGN (SPEED SIGN RECOGNITION) ON THE DASH READ 85 MPH FOR AT LEAST 3 MILES BEFORE CORRECTING ITSELF TO THE POSTED 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT. ON FEB. 23RD, I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 65MPH WITH THE ACC SET. THE CAR ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND NOT REALIZING AT FIRST WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN (I WAS GOING OVER 75MPH). THE ICON ON THE DASH (SSR) READ 85 MPH WHICH IS 20 MPH OVER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. THE SECOND TIME WHEN THE CAR SPED UP, IT SLOWED ABRUPTLY DUE TO A CAR CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME (WITHIN THE 4 CAR FOLLOWING GAP SETTING). BOTH TIMES I HAD THE CRUISE SET (ACC) AROUND 69 MPH AND THE CAR SPEED INCREASED OR TRIED TO, TO 85 MPH BEFORE REALIZED WHAT IT WAS DOING. EITHER TIME I COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR BEEN CITED FOR SPEEDING. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT IF NEEDED. WHY I'M SUBMITTING THIS TO YOU...I CALLED MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THEM TO CHECK MY EXTERIOR SENSORS AND CLEAN THEM (WASH MY CAR) AND CONTACT FORD CORPORATE. I CONTACTED FORD CORP. VIA THE 800#, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT. I ALSO CONTACTED FORD VIA THEIR FACEBOOK SITE. THEY REQUESTED PERSONAL/PRIVY INFORMATION TO BE SENT THRU THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE BUT WOULDN'T GIVE ME A SECURE EMAIL TO SUBMIT TO. SO I'M AT A LOSS TO WHO CAN HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11403744

PREVIOUS COMPLAINT OF 11394378, THEY TRIED TO FIX IT BY CHANGING VALVE BODY FOR TRANSMISSION. THAT DIDN'T WORK SO NOW I'M NEEDING A NEW TRANSMISSION. BEEN WITH THEM FOR OVER A MONTH. THEY ARE WORKING ON IT, BUT STILL AN ISSUE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11403620

THIS IS A POLICE CRUISER. 3,510 MILES. THE AIR CONDITIONING ONLY SEEMS TO COME ON WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 50 DEGREES. BELOW THAT WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ACTIVATED AND ON LOW THE VENTS BLOW WARM AIR MAKING IT VERY HOT INSIDE THE PASSENGERS COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11403293

IN NOVEMBER 2020 WE TOOK OUR BRAND NEW 2020 EXPLORER TO THE DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM FOR A LEAKING OIL AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING, LURCHING, AND GETTING STUCK IN GEAR. THEY ADVISED THAT THE OIL DRAIN WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH BUT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED PARTS. WE TOOK IT BACK IN DEC AND THEY PUT A SHIFT KIT IN. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO ORDER OTHER PARTS BUT THEY WERE BACK ORDERED AND WOULD BE IN AROUND JAN 2021. JANUARY CAME AND WENT AND NO CONTACT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER IN FEBRUARY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS. I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN END OF FEBRUARY AND THEY HAD THE PARTS BUT NO TRANSMISSION PERSON. I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN BEGINNING OF MARCH AND WAS TOLD THEY STILL HAD NO TRANSMISSION PERSON AND WOULD CALL US WITHIN A WEEK TO GET IT FIGURED OUT. STILL NO ONE CALLED AND ON MARCH 16 I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN. THEY ONCE AGAIN SAID THEY HAD NO TRANSMISSION PERSON BUT WOULD BRING THE CAR IN ON THE 30TH TO PUT IN A NEW VALVE BODY AND ATTEMPT ANY OTHER REPAIRS THEY FIND. IN THE MEAN TIME WE ARE DRIVING AROUND IN A CAR THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE IS SAFE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND THE DEALER DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE.

NHTSA ODI 11403393

VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING HARD SHIFTS WHEN IN LOWER GEARS, IT HAS A HARD TIME GOING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. ENGINE MAKES A HUMMING OR LOW GROWLING NOISE, LIKE IT DID BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER BUSTED IN DECEMBER 2020. THIS ALL HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT DOESN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY ANYMORE IT LAGS. SEVERAL TIMES I'VE GONE TO REVERSE INTO MY DRIVE WAY ABS IT DOESN'T SHIFT AT FIRST IT TAKES A COUPLE OF PUSHES ON THE ACCELERATE FOR IT TO CATCH.

NHTSA ODI 11402964